YearToAvoid

2025 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 Soul years

NHTSA lists 12 complaints for the 2025 Kia Soul with a complaint index of 7, the lowest of any year in the lineup, and zero recalls. It ranks best among 16 model years, with electrical system issues (33% of complaints) as the top concern.

Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30.5
28 city / 34 hwy

Top 2025 Kia Soul problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System4 (33%)
  2. Other3 (25%)
  3. Brakes2 (17%)
  4. Engine2 (17%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (17%)
  6. Lane Departure2 (17%)
  7. Airbags1 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Headlights reported as too dim to see the road at night, even on high beam.
  • Owners describe headlight housings falling out of their bracket, worsening visibility.
  • One driver reported forced acceleration combined with an unresponsive brake override system that led to a crash.
  • Front, side, and rear collision warning lights all activated together while pulling out of a parking spot, alongside a loss of power steering.
  • One owner reported the airbag did not deploy and emergency braking did not engage after hitting a deer.
2025 Kia Soul complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2025Aug 2025Oct 2025Dec 2025Feb 2026Mar 2026May 2026Aug 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2025 to Aug 2026; peak Feb 2026 (3).

2025 Kia Soul recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2025 Kia Soul fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
30.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,125
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other Soul years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2023Good3351430.5
2024Best029030.5
2025Best712030.5

All Kia Soul years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia Soul reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Soul has a complaint index of 7, the lowest of any Soul model year, and ranks Best among 16 model years.
Does the 2025 Kia Soul have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2025 Kia Soul, including no do-not-drive recalls.
What is the biggest problem area for the 2025 Kia Soul?
Electrical System complaints make up 33% of the 12 complaints filed with NHTSA, mostly involving headlights described as too dim at night.
How many complaints has NHTSA received for the 2025 Kia Soul?
NHTSA has logged 12 complaints for the 2025 Kia Soul, including 2 crashes and 1 injury, with no fires or deaths reported.
How does the 2025 Soul compare to other Soul years?
The 2025 Soul ranks 15th out of 16 model years for reported problems, meaning it has fewer complaints relative to other years, with a complaint index of 7 versus a high of 100 for the 2015 model.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.